TAD Throw-Out Second Cristiano Ronaldo Appeal

Real Madrid Forward Cristiano Ronaldo’s final route of appeal against his five-game ban for shoving a referee was rejected by Spain’s administrative sports court (TAD) on Tuesday.

“TAD has rejected the appeal presented by Real Madrid against the five-match ban,” a TAD spokesperson confirmed to AFP.

The Portugal Captain blasted his treatment by the Spanish football federation as “persecution” after he was controversially shown a second yellow card for diving after coming off the bench to score as Real won the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup 3-1.

The 32-year-old was handed a one-match ban for the 10th red card of his career and a further four-game suspension for pushing referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea in protest.

Ronaldo has already served two games of his suspension as Madrid completed a 5-1 aggregate win over Barcelona in the Super Cup second leg and as Real opened their La Liga campaign with a 3-0 win at Deportivo la Coruna.

He is now expected to serve out the ban for 3 more games, after his final appeal was rejected.